IIR: Cooling technologies for sustainable data centres

Authored by leading IIR experts in energy and power engineering, this publication offers a comprehensive exploration of innovative cooling solutions designed to meet the escalating demands of the digital age. Supporting technologies such as big data, artificial intelligence, and cloud computing, their energy consumption and carbon footprint are surging with increasing data centres.

The International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR) released a new technical note titled “Cooling technologies for sustainable data centres.” Authored by leading IIR experts in energy and power engineering, this publication offers a comprehensive exploration of innovative cooling solutions designed to meet the escalating demands of the digital age. 

As data centres become the backbone of the global economy, supporting technologies such as big data, artificial intelligence, and cloud computing, their energy consumption and carbon footprint have surged. Cooling systems, a critical component of these facilities, account for the majority of auxiliary energy use. This publication introduces cutting-edge advancements aimed at addressing these challenges while driving efficiency and sustainability. 

Highlights

• Innovative cooling architectures: detailed insights into liquid cooling, air cooling, and hybrid systems that maximise energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact. 
• Energy-saving strategies: exploration of natural cooling technologies, intelligent operation systems powered by AI, and waste heat recovery for sustainable practices. 
• Global perspective: a roadmap for achieving carbon neutrality in data centre operations, emphasising renewable energy integration and comprehensive system optimisation. 
• Future-oriented insights: recommendations for policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders to adopt forward-looking strategies that align with the digital economy’s rapid growth. 

The Brief emphasises that data centre cooling is not merely a technical challenge but a critical opportunity to advance global efforts toward sustainability. With the global market for green data centres projected to grow at an annual rate of nearly 20%, innovations in cooling technologies stand at the forefront of this transformative journey.